France – hope lost?

Today is Bastille Day. On this day, in 1789 (235 years back), a mob stormed the prison in Paris, the Bastille, to liberate a grand total of seven prisoners, none of them actually there for significant political reasons. Another “crowd” (mob) also attacked the Hotel des Invalides to get at the weapons stored there.

Today, as “le 14 jullet” and “la fete nationale” Bastille Day is the “national day” (NATO term) of the French Fifth Republic (since 1958).

The contrast between the “national days” and patriotic holidays of France and the United States is severe and educational.

We point out that both national holidays are in essence hypocritical: the ideals and conditions that led to the original events celebrated are still touted but in reality, lost in history.

But the great differences between the events so long ago (1776 in the States and 1789 in France) are reflected in not just the character and society of the two entities, but in their history and prospects for the future.

While the Founding Fathers in Philadelphia in 1776 met peacefully and methodically debated and decided unanimously to secede from the British empire, the mobs in Paris in 1789 were angry, unorganized, and far from peaceful. The storming of the Bastille resulted in 201 deaths in a truncated battle (the commander surrendered). Nobody died in Philadelphia those first few days of July 1776.

The storming of the Bastille saw the mob reinforced by a mutinous royal guards regiment. Philadelphia was patrolled by watchmen (apparently not armed) and protected by Pennsylvania (colonial) militia.

The work in Philadelphia resulted in a document that has stood the test of time and is mostly honored and respected 249 years later – even if not applied. The work in Paris? Besides killing and looting and general chaos and violence, it was not until six weeks later that the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was proclaimed. We at TPOL are biased, but believe the French document is seriously flawed.

Even worse? The Declaration of Independence resulted in six years of warfare between the British and loyal colonists and the people of the thirteen colonies. Admittedly, followed by a brief sequel, the War of 1812. And also, admittedly followed by four years of incredibly blood War Between The States, which many reasons can be traced to the American War of Independence, the Declaration of Independence, and the 1787 United States Constitution. But in Paris, 14 July 1789 was followed by literally decades of revolution and war. First came the French Revolution overthrowing the monarchy. (Americans did not try to overthrow the House of Hannover (George III’s dynasty.) But this was followed quickly by coups and rebellions with various governments in charge of some or all of France, and resulted directly into a continental-wide war caused by the fear of other nations and the aggression of the various French governments. A pattern that has continued through the 19th and 20th Centuries. And is likely to continue in the 21st. (Certainly there are enough people trying to do that.)

The newly independent thirteen American States have had just two forms of alliance/federation since 1776: the Confederation (which lasted until 1789) and the current government (loosely) following the Constitution of 1787. The transition from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution was peaceful, and not triggered by or the result of a coup.

During the same period of time, France has “enjoyed” various forms of government, including TWO empires, TWO new monarchies, and FIVE (count ’em, FIVE) “Republics.” Mostly changing from one to another through violent uprisings, revolutions and coups. And this does not include more than four years of German occupation during WW2.

And yes, these States – and the FedGov – have suffered through decades of wars. But France? Even more decades of war. The States are accused of being aggressive and acting like an empire in taking land from other countries and from hundreds of tribes. The French? They have gloried in their Empires multiple times since Bastille Day 1789 – not counting the prerevolutionary empire. Vast lands and vast numbers of tribes, and all governed by a unitary government based in Paris. There are no French “States” or “Territories” and in those lands still officially under the control of Paris (and many more de facto still part of their empire) there are no reservations.

We can go on, but it is clear. The results of the French national day and the founding of modern France? (it even took them 3 weeks to abolish feudalism after 14 July 1789 – not until 4 August 1789.) Very different than the results of the States’ Independence Day. In the future, we can expect even more differences. Even if both entities collapse.

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Source: https://freedombunker.com/2025/07/14/france-hope-lost/